SUCCESS STORIES
 UGANDA: Integrating Nets with Antenatal Care Helps Pregnant Women Fight Malaria
PROBLEM:
Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria
because of a host of complications this infectious disease
can cause them and their unborn children. Severe anemia
can result in hemorrhage and death during delivery for the
mother. Malaria also contributes to premature birth, low
birth weight, and stillbirths in fetuses and newborns. Despite
these risks, these women are sometimes overlooked in
malaria prevention efforts especially in areas like Northern
Uganda, where civil conflict severely compromised the
health care delivery system.
SOLUTIONS:
The AFFORD project is a health marketing initiative led
by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's
Center for Communication Programs (CCP) that includes
the Futures Group, the Malaria
Consortium, and three Uganda-based
organizations. With funding from the
U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI),
AFFORD distributed about 45,000 longlasting
insecticide-treated nets (LLINs)
in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader,
Lira and Apac in Northern Uganda —
the districts torn by conflict. The
distribution was carried out at the same
time as training of health facility staff
to boost the program. Another 20,000
LLINs were procured within the year to
support LLIN activities in Adjumani
district, in the West Nile region. In all,
AFFORD distributed more than 60,000
LLINs through antenatal (ANC) clinics
in six conflict districts to provide greater
protection for pregnant women.
Over 300,000 women also received
education on malaria prevention through
the ANC clinics. The recent distribution
expanded an existing program developed by AFFORD
partner, The Malaria Consortium (MC). In 2007, another
four districts will be added. The routine LLIN distribution
for pregnant women will be continued in the ten districts
in 2008 and 2009.
LESSONS LEARNED:
By using the existing district-level health delivery system,
this approach strengthened antenatal care services in this
war-torn area. The ANC clinics targeted pregnant women
from IDP camps and other neighbouring villages. The
distribution of free nets also served as motivation for
pregnant women to attend antenatal services. In addition,
to ensure retention and use of nets, continuous education
was provided on the benefits of use, how nets are hanged
(especially in the huts), and how to prevent net damage.
Source:
http://www.jhuccp.org/africa/uganda/afford.shtml
Contact for further details:
Kim Martin
kmartin@jhuccp.org
 View this document in PDF Format
|
Printer-Friendly